Home › Illinois › Rockford › Dahlquist Park
Dahlquist Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 219 Google reviews · Running trail in Rockford, Illinois · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Paved
- Distance
- 5 mi
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Dahlquist Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
City park with picnic areas, basketball and tennis courts, and a playground.
What runners say about Dahlquist Park
“The problem is that this park is not very well maintained by the city, there is grass growing up through the tennis courts, and the horseshoe pits aren't mowed often.”
“Beautiful park, nice features just the parking situation is a bit rough if you're disabled or have a hard time walking distance.”
“Normally a quiet, peaceful public park BUT on weekends the picnic shelter often is full with sometimes dozens of cars parking and driving throughout the park.”
Normally a quiet, peaceful public park BUT on weekends the picnic shelter often is full with sometimes dozens of cars parking and driving throughout the park. I'm shocked the park district allows this since there are no driving paths to and from the picnic shelter.
Beautiful old city park infused with memories of time gone by. A paved walking path forms a circle around a couple baseball diamonds a pavilion available for rental, basketball courts, and a quiet serene space to get away from the regular workaday life.
Play fantastic park with something for everyone. We often come here to run cross-country and there are two different bridges that go across the creek so you can run the hill on the south side of the creek as well as the hill on the North side. We also have a meet here every year in the fall to finish off the season.
This is a very nice park it has baseball diamonds and a tennis court. There is a small play ground for younger children. You can bring your dog but you must have the dog on a leash. There is a half mile track around the park and you could walk over to the twin sisters hill. They also have public restrooms
Trail conditions & character
“Great place for dogs, 2 baseball diamonds, basketball court, tennis court, horseshoe court, playground for the kids and a bike path.”
“Beautiful park, nice features just the parking situation is a bit rough if you're disabled or have a hard time walking distance.”
“Normally a quiet, peaceful public park BUT on weekends the picnic shelter often is full with sometimes dozens of cars parking and driving throughout the park.”
“Normally a quiet, peaceful public park BUT on weekends the picnic shelter often is full with sometimes dozens of cars parking and driving throughout the park.”
“There is a half mile track around the park and you could walk over to the twin sisters hill.”
“Baseball field, basketball court, tennis court and shelter with public restrooms.”
“A great forested park with baseball diamonds, basketball courts, and a paved walking path.”
“43 mile) + 1/4 a circle and back to car is 1 mile.”
Plan your run at Dahlquist Park
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfacePaved — asphalt or concrete. Fast and predictable, runnable year-round, and fine with a stroller
- Distance5 mi as reported — check whether that is one way or a round trip before you commit. Long enough for a real long run.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms, water — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websiterockfordparkdistrict.org
- Phone+1 815-987-8800
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 7 am–10:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 7 am–10:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 7 am–10:30 pm |
| Thursday | 7 am–10:30 pm |
| Friday | 7 am–10:30 pm |
| Saturday | 7 am–10:30 pm |
| Sunday | 7 am–10:30 pm |
Running trails near Rockford
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Alpine Trail
4.3 ★★★★☆ 4 reviews
Aldeen Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 301 reviews
Peaceful, clean, family-friendly park featuring trails for hiking, dog-walking and sledding.
Sinnissippi Gardens
4.8 ★★★★★ 3,082 reviews
This riverside park features an exhibition hall & gardens showcasing exotic flora, art & sculpture.
Sinnissippi Riverfront Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 61 reviews
Scenic park featuring a riverfront walk, along with sculpture gardens.
Guilford County Forest Preserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 161 reviews
Tranquil, flat park for leisurely walks and biking along a paved pathway and memorials.
Martin Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 552 reviews
City park with a boat ramp and a playground for kids plus picnic tables and BBQ grills.